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Kaleb James from Durham, North Carolina, is headed north to Washington, D.C. this fall to swim and study at Howard University in the class of 2029.
James, who trains year-round with Marlins of Raleigh in Coach Mike’s senior elite group, graduated from Ravenscroft School this spring. He won the 100 breast (56.78) and placed 3rd in the 200 IM (1:50.45) at the 2025 North Carolina Independent Schools Division 1 State Championship. As a junior at the 2024 state meet, he was 3rd in the breast (58.00) and 2nd in the IM (1:51.06).
In December, James competed at Winter Juniors East in the 100 breast, 100 fly, and 200 IM. He then time-trialed the 100 breast and went a full second faster, clocking a PB of 56.29. In March, he added new lifetime bests in the 200 breast at Best of the South and the 50 free and 200 IM at Tar Heel States. At the latter meet, he was runner-up in the 50 free (20.54), 16th in the 100 free (1:43.84 in prelims), and 8th in the 200 IM (1:49.99 in prelims). He also swam a season-best time in the 200 back (2:01.83).
James had a big long course season, finishing the summer with new PBs in the 50 free (24.48), 100 free (54.31), 200 free (2:03.16), 50 breast (30.32), 100 breast (1:06.95), 50 fly (25.43), and 200 IM (2:09.89). At Greensboro Futures, where he earned best times in the 50 breast and 50 fly, he competed in the 50 free, 50/100 breast, 50/100 fly, and 200 IM. His highest finish was 19th in the 50 fly.
Best SCY times:
- 100 breast – 56.29
- 200 breast – 2:05.39
- 200 IM – 1:49.99
- 50 free – 20.54
The Bison compete in the Northeast Conference of NCAA’s Division I. The men won the conference title by a 7-point margin over Wagner last season. James’ best 200 IM time would have won the event by nearly 1.5 seconds, and his 50 free and 100/200 breast times would have made their respective ‘A’ finals.
In addition to being the fastest 200 IMer on the squad last year, he would have been third in breaststroke behind then-seniors Darin Johnson (53.82/2:04.37) and Erald Thompson III (55.62/2:01.95). He also would have ranked among the top 5 in the 50 free, with Johnson (20.32), Tristan Stevens (20.57), Taj Benton (20.68), and Tai Afrik (20.95). He will overlap a year with Benton, the lone junior among the senior sprinters last season, and three years with breaststroker Mark Brown (58.26/2:04.31).
Also joining Howard men’s class of 2029 this fall are Solomon Goins and Ayrton Moncur.
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Congrats Kaleb!